tschmidtke

TRRA Promotions Spring 2015

by

TRRA & TRU Members,

trra_logoOn behalf of the TRRA and the Referee Advancement & Training Organization (RATO), it is my pleasure to announce the first round of promotions for 2015.

TRRA would like to thank all the referees, mentors, coaches, and teams for their commitment to improving the game of rugby. Please join us in recognizing the hard work of the following referees who have been promoted:

C2 to C1

Butch Neuenschwander

Butch has recently moved swiftly through the referee ranks as he has rededicated himself physically and mentally. Butch brought on a personal trainer and nutritionist. It clearly paid off as he ran the highest beep test (13.1) of all the referees this year! He capped off a great season officiating the RRRC Men’s Club Rugby D3 Championship Match. Please join us in congratulating Butch.

Tim O’Gara

Tim completed the Level 200 Referee Certification with flying colors and clearly this course was a great stepping stone for him. Also, Tim was very persistent about requesting film from teams and providing that to his Mentor & RATO for development. As a result he whistled four Division 1 Men’s Club matches this spring with great proficiency. Please join us in congratulating Tim.

C3 to C2

Joey Swatzell
Donnie Hennop

RATO hosted a very successful Level 2 referee certification course in December 2014 and a Level 1 in April. The Level 1 was the largest the TRRA has ever hosted with 17 total attendees from Middle School, College, Club, and Retired ages. This course also presented a new format instead of the traditional classroom setting. Participants ran AR and shadow center refereed at a college tournament as part of the course. This hands on experience was reported as the best part of the course. We saw a wide spectrum of rugby enthusiasts that all want to give back to the game by picking up the whistle. Please welcome the newest additions to the TRRA team:

Newly Certified:

Karl Tolar
Chong Shin
Blair McClure
Robert McClure
Roderick Palmer
Reginald Joseph
Zachary Meyers
Chris Madonna
Brett Stremme
Isaac Hughen
Ryan Walsh
Shon Husband
Christopher Campbell
Kelly Hodge
Steven Rodriquez
Maurice Mullaly
Joel Cortright

The TRRA is excited to have so many new referees and current referees working towards the next level. We appreciate everyone’s dedication and hard work to themselves and to the success of the TRRA.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving the Texas Rugby Union and the Texas Rugby Referee Association.

Traci Schmidtke Young
TRRA Chairman
RATO

Level 1 Referee Course – Apr 18, 2015 @ Richardson, TX

by

1176276_504162323006596_207390337_nIn conjunction with the SWWC 7s Tournament we are hosting a Level 1 Referee Course. We are looking forward to grooming a team of new referees to take their place on Local, National and Olympic stages.

We urge players, administrators, coaches, parents, spectators, and fans to consider giving back to the game by becoming a rugby referee. It is an incredibly rewarding experience and you have the best seat in the house! Also once you become a registered referee you are eligible for Kit, Match Fees and Mileage!

Register

Eligibility: This is the entry or introductory level course to rugby refereeing. Read below for course registration, participants must register for certification and material.

Cost: $60

Where: Fuzzy’s Taco Shop [MAP]
561 W. Campbell Road
Richardson, 75080

Certification: Current USA Rugby membership, including registration as a referee, attend and participate in all course modules, pass online law exam and rugby ready exam prior to course, and complete short safety quiz administered at course site.

Description: The purpose of this introductory course is to enable officials to acquire basic skills to officiate safe, enjoyable competition. Course certification is required for anyone who wishes to referee any match that could potentially lead to a National Championship.

The course focuses on: Game knowledge, Role of the referee, Planning, Advantage, Touch, Principles of rugby, Positioning, Referee preparation, Open play, Lineout, Principles of refereeing, Communication, Technical, Contact, Foul play, Management, Risk management, Starting & restarting the game, Scrum, and how to have fun as a rugby referee.

Course Registration, Cost and CIPP: The cost is $60.00. Registration can be accomplished on-line. AFTER REGISTERING, PLEASE FORWARD THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL TO THE COURSE EDUCATOR

Items needed to attend the course (click on the links below):

Register

Spirit of the Laws and the Sidelines

by

Please read the below note from Richard Every, USA Rugby High Performance Referee Manager. TRU & TRRA are also committed to ending referee, player, spectator and coach abuse in any form.

Texas Rugby Union LogoWe need to take a step forward, as we grow the game in the USA, to ensure that we stand together and work together and are respectful to each other.

We are all passionate about the game and at times we are emotional, but we have a responsibility to the game and each other to be respectful and control our behavior.

Regarding verbally abusive behavior from coaches, team staff or team substitutes towards the match officials and/or to their players or opposition players, USA Rugby Referees will, with immediate effect, be applying the following:

  • The referee will ask the identified person to refrain from this behavior ONCE,
  • On the second occasion the referee will EJECT the person from the grounds;
  • Zero tolerance approach will be applied.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Referee Department.

NOTE: Team coaches have an avenue to communicate with USA Rugby Referees Department, confidentially, by completing this form: https://form.jotformpro.com/form/42454379852969

Regards
Richard Every | High Performance Referee Manager | USA Rugby
e: revery@usarugby.org t: 773 895 6013

Scott Green & Wendy Young Have Received USA Rugby Referee Appointments!

by

sgreen wyoungCongratulations to Scott and Wendy as they have received appointments again at USA Rugby National Championships. Please take a moment and help us congratulate these two as they are very hard working referees and deserving of these appointments.

Green

May 17-18 @ Irving, TX – USA Rugby Club National Championships

Note that Green has also received several D1A, PRP & NACRA Test Match (Assistant Referee) appointments this year as well.

Young

Apr 26-27 @ Atlanta, GA – USA Rugby College National Championships
May 17-18 @ Irving, TX – USA Rugby Club National Championships

For more information on the upcoming tournaments, go here and here.

Oklahoma Rugby adds Wendy Young to their Hall of Fame!

by

482840_10101361971090907_1467516784_nUniversity of Oklahoma Rugby will enshrine its 2014 class of Hall of Famers in conjunction with its 40th Anniversary Friday, March 14, 2014 at Sooner Legends, starting at 7:00 pm.

Jon Velie, OU’s Director of Rugby says, “This year’s class is indicative of the great tradition of OU Rugby, our first coach Kieran Malloy, our first National Team player in Drew Allan, Our biggest international rugby star Michael DeJong, our most prestigious referee and former national women’s team member Wendy Young and the longest serving referee and true character of Oklahoma rugby Lenny Burger.”

Head Coach Jason Horowitz stated, “Oklahoma’s Rugby Hall of Fame provides the bridge between the rich tradition of Oklahoma’s rugby past and the future success of today’s student athletes. We have something special at OU where we invite those that competed for Oklahoma to come back and step on the pitch and compete again against our current squad. The 40th Anniversary will be a celebration of Oklahoma Rugby, a nod to its past with a view to its future.”

Michael Al Jiboori, OU’s captain, “The history of success at Oklahoma is not only appreciated it is expected. It will be an honor to watch those that played here before us receive their Hall of Fame jackets.”

View the Oklahoma Rugby Hall of Fame Class of 2014 in full here and review Wendy’s resume below:

WENDY YOUNG

Player:
2001-2006. Scrumhalf, Captain. Inducted 2014
USA Women’s National Team XV 2006-2008;
West Senior XV 2004-2009; 2013;
West Senior 7s 2003-2007;
West U23 XV 2003-2004;
Austin Valkyries 2006-2012;

Coaching:
Texas XVs Assistant Coach 2011-Present;
Texas 7s Head Coach 2010-Present;
West Senior 7s All Stars Assistant Coach 2011-Present;
West U23 All Stars Coach 2008-2012;
Texas Rugby Union U23 All Stars Coach 2008-2011;

Referee:
USA Rugby Women’s Collegiate XVs – 2014;
USA Rugby Women’s National Club XVs – 2014;
IRB 7s Assistant Referee – 2014;
USA Rugby All Star Sevens Championship -2013;
Collegiate Rugby Championship – 2013;
USA Rugby Women’s Collegiate 15s Playoffs – 2013;
USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens Championship – 2012;

Other:
Member of USA Rugby Competitions Committee;
Texas Rugby Paid Administrator
Red River Rugby Conference Women’s Rep
Editor and Creator of Your Scrumhalf Connection;

TRRA Promotions Spring 2013

by

TRRA & TRU Members,

On behalf of the TRRA and the Referee Advancement & Training Organization (RATO), it is my pleasure to announce the first round of referee promotions for 2013. Thanks to the online assessments completed by TRU coaches and captains, we were able to provide valuable feedback to our referees. Nearly 150 reports were completed by TRU teams. In addition, we had numerous Certified Referee Coaches complete on site reports for referees. Teams also shared game film with referees, which we hope will continue in the future. TRRA thanks everyone for their commitment to improving the game of rugby. Please join us in recognizing the hard work of the following referees who have been promoted:

C4 to C3:
Stephen Boeding
Walker Cagle
Vaughn Crowe
Murray Hunkin
Calvin Messias
Dan O’Donnell Sr.
Dan O’Donnell Jr.
Timmy O’Gara
Steven Riddough
Liz Rutherford
John Scheef

C3 to C2:
Craig Coates
Theo Van Wyk

RATO is excited to add a new referee to the highest local ranking of C1. Shawn “Bean” Martin from the North Region has been working the past two years to improve his referee skills in order to reach the next level. His dedication to his fitness and rugby knowledge earned him a trip to the Battleship Tournament this past fall where he received glowing reports. He continued his hard work in the Spring working with referee coaches and mentors to reach his goals. Please join me in congratulating Shawn. We look forward to his future growth and success as he moves to the next level of refereeing.

C2 to C1:
Shawn “Bean” Martin

RATO also hosted a Level 1 certification in Beaumont in May. A special thank you to Lamar University for hosting. Please welcome the newest additions to the TRRA team:

Newly Certified:
Victor Cano
James Collum
Patrick Dwyer
Donnie Hennop
Spencer Pobanz
Paul Rizk
Abraham Salazar
Ozgur Taner
Jerry Wall
David Williamson

RATO would also like to welcome a couple of new referees to TRRA. These referees are new to Texas, but are not new to the whistle. Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the TRRA team:

Central Region:
Keith Dick (C1) from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Rebekah Aderman (C3) from Denver, Colorado

TRRA is excited to have so many referees working towards the next level. We appreciate everyone’s dedication and hard work to themselves and to the success of the TRRA. Please join us in congratulating all the referees.Thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving the Texas Rugby Union.

Traci Schmidtke Young
TRRA Vice-Chairman
RATO

Scott Green & Wendy Young to Referee at USA Rugby National Championship Playoffs

by

Congratulations to Scott & Wendy as they have each received appointments to referee at an upcoming USA Rugby National Championship Playoff:

Men’s College Playoffs Div 1AA and 2; April 27-28, Austin, TX – Scott Green

Women’s College Playoffs Div 1 and 2; April 12-14, Grand Rapids, Michigan – Wendy Young

These two are great representatives of our referee society and the Texas Rugby Union and very deserving of these appointments.

TRRA Promotions Fall 2012

by

TRRA & TRU Members,

On behalf of the TRRA and the Referee Advancement & Training Organization (RATO), it is my pleasure to announce the final round of referee promotions for 2012.  Thanks to the online assessments completed by TRU coaches and captains, we were able to provide valuable feedback to our referees.  Nearly 75 reports were completed by TRU teams.  In addition, we had numerous Certified Referee Coaches complete on site reports for referees.  Teams also shared game film with referees, which we hope will continue in the future.  TRRA thanks everyone for their commitment to improving the game of rugby.  Please join us in recognizing the hard work of the following referees who have been promoted.

Referees promoting from C4 to C3:
Brett Brandon
Craig Coates
Jessie Enriquez
Craig Geaslen
Austin Ryan
Tim Wilks

RATO would also like to welcome several new referees to TRRA.  These referees are new to Texas, but not new to the whistle.  They come to us with many years of experience.  Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the TRRA.

South Region:
Wes King from Florida
Peter Lewis from England 
Central Region:
Andrew Brooks from Chicago
Pierre Levin from South Africa

The TRRA is excited to have, so many referees working towards the next level. We appreciate everyone’s dedication and hard work to themselves and to the success of the TRRA. With this group of referee leaders, the TRRA looks forward to the Spring 2013 season.Please join us in congratulating all the referees.Thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving the Texas Rugby Union.

Traci Schmidtke Young
TRRA Vice-Chairman
RATO

Bryan Arciero & Wendy Young Have Received USA Rugby Referee Appointments!

by

Congratulations to Bryan and Wendy as they have received appointments at the upcoming USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens National Championships in College Station, TX on Nov 30-Dec 1, 2012. Please take a moment and help us congratulate these two as they are very hard working referees and deserving of these appointments.

Here is the complete list of referees that have received appointments:

1.      Bryan Arciero
2.      Phil Akroyd
3.      Karen Fong-Donoghue
4.      James Hagan
5.      Mike Kelly
6.      Brad Kleiner
7.      Brighton Khumalo
8.      Karen Lozada
9.      Tim Luscombe
10.     Olivia Nigh
11.     Nick Ricono
12.     Derek Summers
13.     Mayumi Takahashi
14.     Kurt Weaver
15.     Wendy Young
16.     Brian Zapp

For more information on the upcoming tournament, go here.